Round 11 Feature Match: Michael Balan vs. Bai Chen

March 25th, 2012

I, Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World, am back to conquer the world of Dueling! And what better way is there to do it, than by leading my forces to victory in the largest Trading Card Game tournament ever held! Michael Balan from Las Vegas, Nevada is Dueling on my behalf against Bai Chen from New York to secure glory and power for the Dark World army! With MY help, there’s no way we can lose!

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Duel One – I win

Balan started off the first Duel with Deck Devastation Virus, The Gates of Dark World, Broww, Huntsman of Dark World, 2 copies of Dragged Down into the Grave, and MEin his arsenal. He activated Gates, Summoned Broww, and Set 2 cards to his back row. Then he activated Dragged Down into the Grave, revealing Kabazauls, Spirit Reaper, Sangan, Bottomless Trap Hole, and Compulsory Evacuation Device from Chen’s hand. Chen was forced to discard ME from Balan’s hand, and Chen discarded Compulsory Evacuation Device. Each Duelist drew a card. Chen activated Maxx “C” and Balan returned Broww to his hand to Special Summon ME! Chen was allowed to draw a card due to Maxx “C”, but it was well worth it to bring MY power to the field!

Chen drew a card and then Balan activated Deck Devastation Virus by Tributing ME! Sure, it pained me to go to the Graveyard, but it was for a worthy cause! A virus spread through Chen’s Deck! Chen was forced to send the Maxx “C”, Spirit Reaper, and Sangan in his hand to the Graveyard due to my virus! Chen Summoned and attacked with Kabazauls – an ancient Dinosaur immune to the Deck Devastation Virus.

Balan activated Dragged Down into the Grave next turn, revealing Broww and Snoww from his hand. Chen revealed Kabazauls. Kabazauls and Broww were discarded, and Broww’s effect activated to draw Balan a card. Next, Balan banished Broww with The Gates of Dark World and discarded Snoww. Snoww’s effect let him add any Dark World card from his Deck to his hand, so of course, he added ME! Next, Balan flipped Reckless Greed to draw 2 copies of Dark World Dealings from his Deck. He activated 1 of our Dark Dealings to draw another of me and discard it! Chen drew a card and discarded Mind Control, leaving him with only a Monster Reborn in hand. MY effect destroyed Chen’s Bottomless Trap Hole, delivering another crushing blow to Chen’s efforts to defeat us. Balan activated another copy of The Gates of Dark World and used it to banish Snoww from his Graveyard and discard and Special Summon Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World. He then returned it to his hand to Special Summon ME, a mightier creature of the Dark World! Next, Balan activated another Dark World Dealings and discarded another copy of ME to destroy Chen’s last on-field card: Kabazauls. My forces of destruction are unstoppable! Chen drew and discarded Solemn Judgment with Dark World Dealings, and Balan Set 2 cards to his back row before activating Dragged Down into the Grave. He discarded Beiige and knocked Monster Reborn out of Chen’s hand before each Duelist drew a card. Beiige was Special Summoned, and Balan returned it to his hand to Special Summon another copy of ME from his Graveyard. Finally, Balan activated Monster Reborn to Special Summon a third copy of ME! My triple assault easily wiped out Chen’s 8000 Life Points.

Michael Balan wisely takes full advantage of ME to win the first Duel! Chen will have the advantage of making the first move in Duel 2!

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Duel Two – A Temporary Setback

Chen started off Duel 2 by Normal Summoning Rescue Rabbit and banishing it to use its effect. Balan Chained Maxx “C” to draw a card when Chen Special Summoned 2 copies of Kabazauls. Then Chen combined his Kabazauls to Summon Evolzar Laggia, and Balan drew another card.

Balan drew for turn and then had Tour Guide From the Underworld, Gellenduo, Solemn Judgment, Royal Decree, Mystical Space Typhoon, Torrential Tribute, and Snoww, Unlight of Dark World in his hand. He Set Gellenduo, Torrential Tribute, Mystical Space Typhoon, Royal Decree, and Solemn Judgment before ending his turn.

Chen Normal Summoned Tour Guide From the Underworld and activated its effect to Special Summon Sangan from his Deck. Then he combined Sangan with Tour Guide to Summon Leviair the Sea Dragon and used Leviair’s effect to Special Summon Rescue Rabbit from his banished zone. He banished the Rabbit to Special Summon 2 copies of Sabersaurus and when Balan flipped Torrential Tribute, Chen activated the effect of his Laggia to negate the Torrential Tribute. Next, Chen combined his 2 copies of Sabersaurus to Summon another Laggia. Laggia attacked Gellenduo, and Balan was safe from damage. A Fairy of LIGHT like Gellenduo is only fit to act as a shield for protecting the darkness!

Balan drew ME next turn and passed, protected by Gellenduo.

Chen Set a card to each zone and passed. Balan tried to destroy the newly Set card with Mystical Space Typhoon, but Chen negated the Mystical Space Typhoon with his Laggia.

Balan drew another Gellenduo. He flipped Royal Decree and Chen negated it with Solemn Judgment; but Balan flipped his own Solemn Judgment and negated Chen’s! Next, Chen Normal Summoned Tour Guide From the Underworld and activated its effect to Special Summon Broww, Huntsman of Dark World from his Deck. He combined his 2 Level 3 Fiends to Xyz Summon Wind-Up Zenmaines in Defense Position.

Chen activated the effect of Leviair to Special Summon Rescue Rabbit and then Flip Summoned Kabazauls. He combined Rescue Rabbit with Kabazauls to Summon Number 39: Utopia. Utopia and both Laggias attacked Zenmaines to destroy it.

Balan drew Allure of Darkness next turn and activated it to draw Reckless Greed and another copy of Snoww, Unlight of Dark World, which he banished with Allure’s effect. He Set another Gellenduo before passing.

Chen attacked Gellenduo with Utopia, flipping it face-up. He Set a card to his back row and passed.

Balan drew Malefic Stardust Dragon and passed.

Chen activated Dark Hole! He Chained Forbidden Lance to protect his own Utopia, but lost his 2 Laggias and his Leviair. Balan’s 2 copies of Gellenduo were destroyed. Chen Normal Summoned Tour Guide From the Underworld next, and activated its effect to Special Summon Leviair the Sea Dragon. He used Leviair’s effect to Special Summon Snoww, Unlight of Dark World. Snoww, Leviair, and Utopia attacked directly, wiping out all 4000 of Balan’s Life Points!

Michael Balan stalls Duel 2 with the LIGHT shield that we call Gellenduo, but ultimately falls after Chen clears the field with Dark Hole. But Michael Balan will be going first in Duel 3, and with ME by his side, is sure to be victorious!

Duel Three – I Win Again

Balan opened up with Tour Guide From the Underworld, Reckless Greed, Mystical Space Typhoon, Dark Hole, Dragged Down into the Graveyard, and ME! He Normal Summoned Tour Guide and activated its effect to Special Summon Broww, Huntsman of Dark World from his Deck. He Set all of his Spells and Traps and then activated Dragged Down into the Grave, forcing Chen to reveal Monster Reborn, Book of Moon, Solemn Judgment, Compulsory Evacuation Device, and Sabersaurus from his hand. Balan sent Chen’s Monster Reborn to the Graveyard, and Chen discarded ME from Balan’s hand! Chen drew a card, and Balan drew The Gates of Dark World. Balan returned Broww to his hand to Special Summon ME before ending his turn. Gaining my assistance on the very first turn? There’s no way Balan could lose this Duel!

Chen Normal Summoned Sabersaurus and attacked Tour Guide with it, destroying her in battle. He Set 4 cards to his back row before passing.

Balan drew Dragged Down into the Grave. He activated Mystical Space Typhoon to target a face-down card, but Chen negated the Mystical Space Typhoon with Solemn Judgment! Next, Balan activated Reckless Greed to draw Malefic Stardust Dragon and Gozen Match. He activated The Gates of Dark World and then used its effect by banishing Tour Guide from his Graveyard. He discarded Broww and drew Dragged Down into the Grave and Reckless Greed. I attacked Sabersaurus and Balan used Book of Moon to protect it by putting me face-down. Balan Set Reckless Greed and Gozen Match in Main Phase 2, and then Special Summoned Malefic Stardust Dragon.

Chen Normal Summoned Tour Guide From the Underworld and activated its effect; but Balan flipped Gozen Match! Chen sent Sabersaurus to the Graveyard and Special Summoned Sangan from his hand with Tour Guide’s effect. In Chen’s End Phase, Balan activated another Reckless Greed to draw Foolish Burial and Snoww, Unlight of Dark World.

Balan skipped his Draw Phase due to the effect of Reckless Greed. But who needs a Draw Phase when you have the Dark World army at your disposal!? He banished Broww from his Graveyard to use The Gates of Dark World. He discarded Snoww, drew Reckless Greed, and searched his Deck for a Snoww to add to his hand with Snoww’s effect. Then he attacked Sangan with Malefic Stardust Dragon. Chen protected Sangan by flipping Compulsory Evacuation Device and returning Malefic Stardust Dragon to Balan’s hand. Chen flipped Dark Hole next, destroying ME along with Chen’s Sangan and Tour Guide. Once again, my sacrifice was a worthy one, for it helped to clear Chen’s field! Sangan’s effect grabbed Chen a D.D. Crow from his Deck. Next, Balan Normal Summoned Snoww and Chen activated the effect of his D.D. Crow to banish me. But I can’t be kept down for long! Balan activated Foolish Burial to send another copy of ME from his Deck to his Graveyard. Balan returned Snoww to his hand to Special Summon me and then Special Summoned Malefic Stardust Dragon in Main Phase 2. He Set Reckless Greed before passing.

Chen drew a card and Set it. Balan flipped Reckless Greed in the End Phase, drawing The Gates of Dark World and Card Destruction.

Balan skipped his Draw Phase once again and then used The Gates of Dark World to banish another Dark World monster from his Graveyard, discard Snoww, and draw a card. He searched for his last copy of Snoww with Snoww’s effect. Next, Balan activated another copy of The Gates of Dark World, destroying his Malefic Stardust Dragon. He activated Card Destruction next, discarding his hand, including a Snoww, to draw Skill Drain, Gellenduo, Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World, and Broww, Huntsman of Dark World, and used Snoww’s effect to add ME from his Deck to his hand. Next, he banished Snoww from his Graveyard and discarded ME with The Gates of Dark World to draw a card. I destroyed Pot of Avarice with my effect, demolishing any hope Chen may have had of recovery. I tried a double onslaught in the Battle Phase, but I was sent to the Graveyard by Mirror Force! But as all know, I AM INVINCIBLE!

Chen topdecked Rescue Rabbit and banished it to Special Summon 2 copies of Sabersaurus. When he realized that he couldn’t Xyz Summon Laggia with it due to Gozen Match, he conceded, with Balan still standing strong with 8000 Life Points. Chen knew that I would resurface on the next turn and finish him off!

Michael Balan predictably leads my Dark World army to victory over Bai Chen! My Dark World army is unstoppable!